Martin Rees, a member of the United Kingdom’s House of Lords and Astronomer Royal, is a co-founder of Cambridge University’s Center for the Study of Existential Risks and was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.

Comments

Yes we can(save the world) but only when we apply all of science to the problem. Cognitive science applied to this article reveals one of many cognitive challenges we face.

" If we apply to catastrophic risks the same prudent analysis that leads us to buy insurance – multiplying probability by consequences " Therein lies the problem. When we assess insurance risk we are framing that risk within a limited time and scope, generally one or two generations removed and the benefactors are close to us genetically or geographically. We evolved to deal only within the scope of small groups, short distances and limited time frames. virtually all the problems referred here are globe in distance and population and require actions today for the survival of generations to far into the future and genetically diverse for our evolved minds to use the risk and consequence product.

Our challenge is to use ALL of Science to overcome humanities innate biases so they may save themselves

PS On Air: The Super Germ Threat

NOV 2, 2016

In the latest edition of PS On
Air
, Jim O’Neill discusses how to beat antimicrobial resistance, which
threatens millions of lives, with Gavekal Dragonomics’ Anatole Kaletsky
and Leonardo Maisano of
Il Sole 24 Ore.

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